Boilerplate Clauses – The Devil is in the Detail

Conexus Law, the specialist advisory firm that provides legal and commercial advice to clients who work in sectors where the built environment, technology, engineering and people converge, is warning companies to check the boilerplate clauses on all existing and future contracts in the light of the impact of Covid-19. The firm is warning that failure to do so could be costly and disruptive.

Ian Timlin, at Conexus Law, explains:

Boilerplate clauses, also known as standard, miscellaneous or general clauses, are generally found towards the end of most contracts or commercial agreements. They are normally standard commercial terms that do not vary much from one transaction to another. Boilerplate clauses are often not typically heavily negotiated, but they are important. They often regulate the operation of the contract (i.e. its duration, interpretation, transferability, and enforceability) and many contract disputes depend on the drafting of boilerplate clauses such as termination, force majeure, and entire agreement clauses.

Understandably when people are using an existing contract, for example a supplier agreement, they concentrate on the operative terms and conditions of the agreement and pay less attention to these standard provisions at the end of an agreement. However, many contract disputes depend on the drafting of boilerplate clauses such as termination, force majeure, and entire agreement clauses. This is particularly important during Covid-19 for organisations who are struggling to deliver a contractual service as a force majeure clause might allow for the suspension of performance as a result, for example, of quarantine or other employee restrictions.

(Of course if you now entering into new contracts it is worth considering adding a clause that specifies a pandemic, epidemic, outbreaks of infectious disease or any other public health crisis restrictions as an event of force majeure.)
In addition, most boilerplate clauses clarify the relationship between the contracting parties. Generally, subject to statutory restrictions and illegality, the parties to an English law contract are free to define their contractual relationship between each other which can provide certainty if terms in the contract are ever disputed.
This is especially important given the strain that Covid-19 has put on relationships throughout the supply chain, with many businesses now looking at their financial and logistical obligations to third parties to prepare and protect their operations and staff.

As a result, it is also worth noting that boilerplate clauses are also changing. In a limited supply marketplace, it is always worth considering having a standard clause that forces your counterparties to a contract to mediate before court proceedings can be instigated by one party against another which can save time and money. It can also help salvage a business relationship before parties become entrenched in their positions as a result of court proceedings.
However, just re-hashing clauses and omitting properly thought out boilerplate clauses may create uncertainty and expose certain elements of the relationship or agreement between parties open to interpretation in a court of law, which is often an expensive and unpredictable exercise.

Finally, it is worth checking these clauses for another reason. They may assist you in your commercial aspirations – you may be pleasantly surprised by what is hidden there!

HOW CAN CONEXUS LAW HELP?

Businesses and individuals will need legal advice to help them understand the risks they may face and the options that may be open to them.

We are available to assist in reviewing the laws in many jurisdictions across the world, and to review specific contracts. We are also available to provide practical, business-orientated advice on how to best protect yourself from the ongoing commercial effects of Covid-19.

Contact

For further advice on renegotiating your contractual obligations or pursing your contractual rights, please contact Ian Timlin.

T: +44 (0)20 7390 0280
M: : +44 (0)7767 427 332
E: [email protected]

Fact Sheet: Beyond Covid-19 – A Turnover Rent Resurgence?

Would-be commercial tenants no longer know whether to take on a new lease. Existing tenants are looking for ways to adjust arrangements with landlords in order to survive the impact of the recent lockdown. Could something reminiscent of the traditional turnover rent now be a way to pin rental levels to the performance of a tenant’s business, during a unique period of economic uncertainty?

Yes, but whereas historically, turnover structures would see a landlord share in the very good times with the tenant, we’ve now seen measures undertaken on a global scale which have had an unmatched negative effect on the performance of businesses with a necessary physical presence – cafes, bars, restaurants, and retail.

Whilst some sectors have thrived – data, hosting, and connectivity, as well as e-commerce and the tech industry – some others have seen their revenue decimated and through no fault of their own; not many businesses could have foreseen to protect themselves against the consequences of coronavirus.

Whilst we cautiously emerge from lockdown and do all that we can to avoid a second wave of the virus, the turnover rent approach could prove a useful tool, for both new and existing commercial tenants.

Traditionally, turnover structures would see a base level of rent paid (usually around 75-80% of the open market value), and a top-up element which would be a percentage of the tenant’s net turnover over a given time period – usually between 5-12%.

This would generally have to be in tandem with a landlord option to fall back on a full open market rent if turnover fell below a certain threshold, and in some specific cases, keep-open covenants by the tenant such that turnover could be optimised – obviously for the purposes of making life easier in the current circumstances, an ability for the landlord to do either of these things would defeat the object somewhat.

If we assume a period of zero turnover (no longer unthinkable), a base rent would at least provide the landlord with some degree of certainty of continued rental income, and some capacity to satisfy any related loan obligations and covenants. At the same time, the tenant might be cushioned from the very worst of any ongoing or renewed impact on its business.

But many businesses occupying commercial premises are no longer holding back in requesting full turnover rents across entire existing portfolios i.e. no base rent, solely a rent linked to turnover.

On the face of it, this will be hugely unpalatable to commercial landlords, but faced with the dual prospect of tenants that simply won’t survive if they must pay rent over and above a level linked in some way to their income, and a potentially pretty tough lettings market, turnover only structures might begin to look more feasible, perhaps even as a temporary measure.

A deferred rent structure in place alongside a wholesale turnover rent might soften the blow i.e. allow the tenant to pay a turnover-only rent, with a structure to claw back a perceived “shortfall” once certain conditions are met, or at a certain point in the term. These structures carry some risk in that there’s no guarantee the tenant will ever be able to pay the shortfall in the future, and if used, they should be carefully documented as to exactly how the shortfall will be calculated and with reference to which income figures, and when and how it is expected that any shortfall will be paid to the landlord.

And what else is there to look out for?

Turnover rent provisions in leases are reasonably complex, and the gathering and provision of evidence of turnover, as well as the potential professional verification or audit of calculations can be burdensome and costly. These calculations also have great potential to lead to dispute. Any party considering a turnover structure must take expert advice, and ensure that there is appropriate provision in the lease for dispute resolution.

The parties will also need to be clear on what is and is not regarded as turnover.

Traditionally, items such as VAT on goods, refunds or credits for returned or faulty goods, or allowances for exchanged or traded in goods, or customary discounts given by a tenant, would all be discounted for the purposes of calculating a net turnover. Tenants will be keen to carve out income from online sales too i.e. that not generated on the premises in question.

Implementation of a turnover rent would also be the time to consider re-tightening returns policies for goods sold – many retailers relaxed and extended these during the height of the lockdown, but when it comes to turnover rent estimates and calculations, good turnover visibility is important.

Whether agreeing new terms or amending existing ones (whether as temporary concessionary arrangements or via more permanent variations to leases), rent review and alienation provisions are also matters to consider.

How is any turnover rent, whether a temporary or permanent arrangement, to be treated on rent review? Will “usual” assignment and subletting provisions apply? Or, did the landlord envisage a turnover rent with one specific tenant in mind? If an assignee or subtenant coming into occupation on any basis remains a possibility, will the turnover rent provisions be suspended for all or part of the remainder of the term, and if so, what will the substitute rent be?

Lastly, the following should always be kept in mind if changes are being made to existing arrangements, whether they manifest as concessions or variations:

  • the circumstance in which, and for how long any temporary arrangements apply;
  • whether the operation of any break option could be frustrated by reason of payment of a reduced rent, however temporary;
  • whether the parties’ successors in title are bound by any new arrangements;
  • whether any guarantor needs to be a party to new documentation;
  • whether any third-party consents are required, from lenders or superior landlords or the like;
  • rent deposit arrangements, and whether they can be drawn upon if a turnover rent produces a perceived shortfall as against the usual full rent; and
  • where changes to existing leases amount to a variation, always seek tax advice particularly that pertaining to Stamp Duty Land Tax.

Fact Sheet: Employment matters to consider as we prepare to emerge from lockdown

The government has set out plans to take the UK out of lockdown and allow the economy to restart safely while continuing to minimise the spread of the coronavirus. It has issued and continues to issue guidance and mandate actions that businesses and individuals must take to support this effort.

We have no reason to believe that restrictions on how businesses operate will be lifted in the near future, and employers should plan now to meet their obligations in this regard.

As the government winds down the coronavirus job retention scheme, it is anticipated that a significant proportion of employers will face difficult economic choices regarding their workforce in the absence of government assistance. Employers should urgently consider what working arrangements, including working hours, shift patterns and rates of pay they will provide to their staff when flexible furlough is introduced on July 1st, and as government assistance under the job retention scheme is withdrawn.

This note provides some valuable, practical steps for businesses in relation to their employees and working practices as we cautiously resume ‘normal’ working patterns.

Fact Sheet: Renegotiation – An art not a science

Chances are, that as a result of COVID-19, you are either going to have to seek to renegotiate your agreements with another party or deal with parties wishing to do so with you.

In respect of renegotiation, here are some points to consider…

Fact Sheet: The effect of Coronavirus on contractual obligations

The Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak is already having a significant impact on many individuals and many businesses. Unfortunately, it is becoming clearer that the impact will likely be more significant and longer lasting than we may have imagined at first.

Primarily, businesses should be focussed upon the health and wellbeing of their teams, and what they can do operationally to minimise the spread of the virus. Governments across the world are issuing guidance, and mandating actions that businesses and individuals must take to support this effort.

This is a fast-moving landscape. We are working hard to keep our clients up to date.

This note provides legal analysis alongside some valuable, practical steps that may be taken by parties who find the impact of Covid-19 affects their ability to meet contractual obligations owed to others (upstream), or who find that their trading partners can no longer meet the obligations owed to them (downstream).

In the modern commercial world, businesses are also more reliant on trading partners and long “just in time” supply chains in order to fulfil their contractual obligations. The impact of Covid-19 could significantly upset those finely balanced arrangements. The relationships between parties may be tested in ways they had not previously contemplated.

As trading relationships are now often global, one may have to consider a complex interplay of laws from different jurisdictions, some of which are potentially in conflict. The answers are not simple and are highly fact specific. This note gives some general legal guidance, but it is no substitute for proper legal advice – whether that advice comes from us, or your usual lawyers.

Various governments are introducing emergency legislation to provide support to businesses that may be affected by Covid-19. Some of that legislation may amend the general legal guidance provided in this note.

For countries that are key for our clients, we will endeavour to provide more detailed advice on the latest position.